2011 Ford Explorer 4WD Review and Specifications

Ford's new 2011 Explorer makes the old one look like a crossover.
This one looks more like a sport utility, and since Explorer is credited
with inventing the four-door SUV, it's only right that it should look the
part.

The Bottom Line: Ford's new Explorer makes the old one look
like a crossover. This one looks more like a sport utility, and since
Explorer is credited with inventing the four-door SUV, it's only right that
it should look the part. It has the capability for some medium-to-hard
off-roading as well.

When you have a vehicle that essentially defined the
four-door sport utility segment, you're naturally expected to come up with
something spectacular to replace it.

Well, Ford hasn't necessarily come up with
something spectacular, but the new Explorer is as worthy as the old one was
with a couple of extras.

First, the new Explorer looks more like a sport
utility. Granted the old one was no slouch, but the new one really looks as
if it would be at home on the Outback, or at least off-roading through some
American wilderness roads.

And it's comfortable. We spent most of our
Explorer time, sadly, not exploring, but mostly on Interstates, where, by
the way, we averaged 19.2 mpg. We had eight 2-hour trips that contributed
to the good fuel economy numbers. the trips also cured backaches rather
than create them. On the Interstates, the Explorer was comfortable, but not
too comfortable. We had power to spare from the 3.5-liter V6 engine, and
with the 6-speed automatic transmission we had smoothness. I never felt the
need for more power and always felt I had some in reserve.

In addition, the four-wheel disc brakes did a good
job of stopping the 4,695-pound Explorer.

The Explorer has a terrain management system knob
on the center console that allows you to modify driving characteristics for
snow, sand, mud or normal driving. All we encountered was normal with rain.

But why does Ford muck up its vehicles with MyFord
Touch and Sync and a Sony audio system that offers great sound, but whose
screen is useless? And I couldn't get the navigation system to work. BMW
had similar user-unfriendly problems with the first generation i-Drive, but
has worked through the kinks to evolve a workable tool. Let's hope Ford can
do the same.

Other than the center stack controls, the Explorer
is user-friendly. You can use the steering wheel controls to control audio
functions (there is a small screen to the right of the speedometer that
tells you what you have done). Still, the USB settings don't come up
automatically and you have to work at it. To the left of the speedo there's
another small screen that can alternate among cruise info, a tachometer,
fuel economy, compass and climate.

Built on a wheelbase that's about an inch shorter
than the previous version, the Explorer is larger than the old one. Parked
next to one, it even looks larger.

I like the size of the Explorer. It's good for
passengers (up to seven or eight), plus cargo. Like some minivans, there's
a well behind the third row seats that helps with cargo. The power tailgate
also helps access to whatever you may have back there.

I love Active Cruise Control. It slows the
Explorer when the vehicle in front isn't going as fast as you are. If a
collision is imminent, a string of red warning lights appear at the base of
the windshield and an alarm sounds. It got me once when I wasn't
concentrating and once when I was.

There are blue accent lights around the interior
that lend a calm air to the Explorer. These are in the cup holders and door
pulls.

The redesign shows some Land Rover influence,
particularly in the grille and ride height. However, the Explorer is more
user-friendly in the driving department.